i've talked with president obama about this. he is extremely committed. i would like to see a number of other things. incidentally, senator durbin deserves every kind of honor and praise for what he has done with the dream act. he will be very important in this. >> good morning, senator. "the washington post" suggested yesterday that you present an obstacle to the passage of gun- control legislation. obviously, you do in a sense. but i am wondering if sort of standard -- the standard practice in congress should yield to what many perceive to be an extremely urgent situation. >> i think it is an urgent situation. that is why the first hearings held by anybody, house or senate, will be by me and my committee in that. i wasn't quite sure who they were talking about when they wrote the article, but i will strongly defend the press to write and print what they want, accurate or otherwise. but the fact is -- and i am not suggesting whether this was accurate or not -- but i will point out that i have a track record of getting legislation passed. some will say th